Hawaiian History Timeline

By Brian Lee HPA
  • 1778

    1778

    Englishman James Cook of the British navy discovered Hawaii.
  • 1795

    1795

    King Kamehameha I unifies Hawaiians.
  • 1819

    1819

    Kamehameha I dies, and his son Liholiho became Kamehameha II. He promptly abolished the local religion.
  • 1835

    1835

    The first sugar plantation is established on Kauai Island

  • 1859

    Honolulu Gas Company is established
  • 1866

    1866

    Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) sails into Honolulu Harbor
  • 1886

    1886

    Electricity arrives as five arc lamps are strung around Iolani Palace
  • 1898

    1898

    Hawaii's state flag is replaced by the United States' "Stars and Stripes"
  • 1957

    1957

    The first telephone cable from the US mainland to Hawaii operated
  • 1959

    1959

    Hawaii became the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959